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More than two-fifths of residents support more social housing in rural areas, poll says
More than two-fifths of residents support more social housing being built in rural areas, a poll has found.
In a survey of 2,059 people living in rural communities, 46% expressed appetite for new social housing in their area. Meanwhile, 53% supported more council housing and 53% supported more homes for low-cost ownership.
The poll by Opinium, commissioned by housing association Stonewater, also found that over two-thirds (69%) of rural residents believe it is difficult to secure housing in their area.
Of these respondents, 70% believed the cost of housing was to blame. A third (33%) said a lack of housing in their local area causes house prices to increase as demand outweighs supply.
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Meanwhile, four in 10 residents (42%) said that a lack of good-quality, affordable housing was a key constraint for people to move to the countryside.
People also highlighted a lack of public transport (55%) and services (45%) in their area as reasons why people might be deterred from moving to the countryside.
Urban and suburban respondents said that a lack of public services (44%), public transport (43%) and public amenities (39%) were the key reasons why they would not move to the countryside.
Jonathan Layzell, chief growth and development officer at Stonewater, said: “The housing crisis in rural areas is particularly acute and a drastic change of direction is needed.”
He also called for the next government to ensure a “long-term” Affordable Homes Programme.
Mr Layzell added: “Increased supply of affordable homes will help ease house price pressures, secure investment for public services and amenities through developer contributions to public services and transport, and attract people to live in the area who will spend their money in local amenities.”
Research from the National Housing Federation (NHF) published this week found that 45 local authority-maintained schools in rural areas closed between 2018 and 2023.
Around 535 pubs and bars also closed during the same period.
A total of 53 post offices in rural areas closed between 2022 and 2023, while the number of post offices in urban areas has grown.
Kate Henderson, chief executive of the NHF, said: “We are in the midst of a housing emergency, the effects of which are felt even more acutely by those in rural communities.”
She added: “Building more social and affordable homes in rural areas is the key to enabling communities to thrive, both socially and economically, and it’s clear there’s support for it, as this research shows.
“We need the next government to meet the needs of these communities and commit to a long-term plan for housing to help tackle the housing crisis in rural areas.”
Inside Housing revealed earlier this year that just 17% of rural local planning authorities had used a planning policy to boost affordable housing since it was introduced.
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